wind energy in the appalachians
DESCRIPTION
An objective Cost/Benefit Analysis of industrial scale wind energy in the Appalachian Mountains and more specifically in the Blue Ridge MountainsTRANSCRIPT
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Wind Energyin the Appalachians
Cost / BenefitAnalysis
Blue Ridge Mountain Defenders
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• In 1982, the United Nations World Charter of Nature gave the first international recognition of the PP, stating that when "potential adverse effects are not fully understood, the activities should not proceed".
• 1992 Rio Declaration states: The best environmental policy is to protect the environmental systems as a priority, in particular where the results of an action are unknown.
A principle of "no regrets".
Precautionary Principle
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Does the placement of industrial scale wind turbines near rural communities benefit one segment of society, while exploiting vulnerable rural populations and ecosystems?
for REFLECTIONCan people choose to live more simply so that
energy production may be reduced rather than expanded?
How are we responsible stewards of the earth if by attempting to conserve resources in one area (e.g., producing clean energy) we are at the same time causing destruction in other areas of the environment?
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Consider our legacyto the
world of ourgrandchildren.
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Island of Green
Mountain ridges are just as fragile as Wetlands
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Turbine Installation On A Vermont Ridgetop
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Siltation of creeks and tributariesSediments clog streamsHarm aquatic life
Water Degradation
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Water Degradation (cont.)
Contamination of surface water will affect spring water for homes.
Contamination of groundwater aquifers will affect springs & wells, & ultimately rivers & reservoirs.
BEFOREAFTER
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Oil in Turbines
Leaking oil can enter soil
& both surface &
groundwater.
Oil will add fuel to forest
fires caused by lightning,
mechanical problems, or
carelessness.
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Contrary to popular opinion, due to their inefficiency in energy production, wind turbine installations
DO NOT REDUCE THE CARBON FOOTPRINT.
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Turbine Construction = Habitat Destruction
PresentHoneysuckle Road
Future Honeysuckle Road?
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Poor Mtn. Sugar Maples
Present Upland ForestRoanoke County
Ridges
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Tree Species of Concern
AMERICAN CHESTNUT
CANADIAN HEMLOCK
CAROLINA HEMLOCK
DISEASED HEMLOCK
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Native Fishes Will Suffer From Stream Siltation And Pollution
Brook Trout , Roanoke Logperch & Madtom
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Habitats of Game Species will be Disturbed & Game Numbers Reduced
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Songbirds Restricted ToVirginia’s Mountain Tops Will No Longer Be
Seen
VEERY JUNCO (SNOWBIRD)
CANADA WARBLER
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Migrating & Resident Hawks Will Be Decimated Season After
Season
OVER 2700 HAWKS WERE SEEN OVER POOR MT. ON
SEPT 22ND, 2009
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Hawk Count—September 2010
From the Poor Mt. Hawk Watching Site, during 35 hours of observation, the tally was 813 raptors, which included:
3 ospreys5 bald eagles23 accipiters2 peregrine falcons746 broad-winged
hawks
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Bats are in trouble the world over. Let’s not send them over the edge.
ENDANGERED VIRGINIA BIG-EARED BAT
ENDANGERED INDIANA BAT
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Unusual Mammal Residents of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Jumping Mouse
Eastern Woodrat
Long-tailed Shrew Red-backed Vole
Spotted Skunk
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Poor Mountain Ridgeline Trail
The VA Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries has added a 3.2 mile stretch along the top of Poor Mt. to the VA Birding and Wildlife Trail System
How are we responsible stewards of the earth if by attempting to conserve resources in one area, we are at the same time causing destruction in other areas of the environment?
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Benefits Enhances community’s appreciation for
extraordinary Blue Ridge living environment
Provides electrical energy without atmospheric pollution, with the exception of supply and maintenance service provider industries (heavy metals for generators, petroleum products, steel & fiberglass)
By reasoning of displacement, the wind developers suggest Metric Tonnes of elimination of “greenhouse gas production”
On Poor Mountain, March 2010, the wind developer stated that a proposed 15 turbines would produce enough clean energy for 10,000 Roanoke Valley Homes
and eliminate 98,ooo mT of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere.
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Benefits, cont’.
Provides financial revenue … stream to the property owner. Estimate: $7,000 -$10,000 per turbine per year /gross Provides financial revenue … stream to Roanoke County government. Estimate: $800,000 -$1,000,000 per year /gross
Provides jobs. One or two fulltime plus periodic maintenance and support personnel, annually. During construction, local graders, excavators and raw materials suppliers will be hired to assist the specialty construction workforce, who installs the turbines.
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CostsONE HUNDRED
MILLION DOLLARSfor 15 wind turbines on Poor
Mtn. Funding? 30% Federal and other grants and subsidies ; not including annual maintenance subsidies or investment tax incentives
30% Federally-insured loans
30% private investment
10% wind developer & turbine manufacturer – “…they have no skin in the game.” Larry Summers, WSJ Oct 2010
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Costs, cont’.
PLUSHigher Electricity
Rates Renewable Energy Credits 1 Mwh = 1 REC
31 States have Renewable Portfolio Standards enacted that require power companies to supply a designated percentage of electricity distributed in the state, to be from renewable energy providers. – A False Market
Power companies are routinely granted rate increases by the states, to pay for this relatively scarce electricity resource. So, while the taxpayer provides the majority of the funding for this industry, the consumers pay still MORE!
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Beech Ridge Wind Energy Center, WV
Costs, cont’.Appropriated Land Area
~ 2000 A tract / 18 turbines x 2.5
MW = 44 ½ acres per Mwin the Appalachian Mountains Poor Mtn.: 4.75 miles of new
100’ wide (minimum) access corridors on the ridges to connect each 3 to 5 acre turbine site. –Denuded Areas
Little or No CO2 benefit
in the Appalachian Mountains Wind is intermittent, therefore supplemental Coal will likely remain on line in the Appalachians for base load requirements.
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15?, 18?, 36?, 54?1.5Mw?, 2.5Mw?,
4Mw? on Bent Mountain &
Poor Mountain inRoanoke County
…thousands on Appalachian ridges across Virginia
or
Scope
Are we considering 15 or 18 turbines on Poor Mountain...
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Floyd County
Tools for
Evaluation• DOE Wind Data Charts• 6 Years Data from local automatic weather station• Google Earth• Local & Statewide professional resources
Blue Ridge Mountains
Roanoke County
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In March 2010, Invenergy stated there proposed 15 turbine project would be capable of generating enough electricity to provide for 10,000 Roanoke Valley homes.
Our Finding: 5,104 Homes
LESS 10% Transmission/Distribution Losses (510)
4,594 Homes Annually
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Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area
Population: 303,200Households based upon US Census
Data: 2.2 per household138,000
Electricity Requirement for RMSA
541 – 2.5 Mw Wind Turbines
44.5 x 541 x 2.5 = 6o,186 Acres of Mountain
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Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
Can site based generation systems be a better clean energy solution?
VAWT
All provide equal or greater supplement in both urban & rural locations and reduce transmission and distribution losses
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
Solar Panels
Bloom Boxes
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Does the placement of industrial scale wind turbines
near rural communities benefit one segment of society, while
exploiting vulnerable rural populations and ecosystems?